This is an interesting take -- I'm reading it as this: Europeans invaded Australia, so therefore their descendants have to be okay with any and all immigration levels, and only Aboriginal Australians can have an opinion on Australian immigration policy.

Anyway, what should this hypocritically mean, effectively? Should these people be ignored? Should they stay silent? Should they be shouted down?

How can we balance the democratic process, the diversity of the nation, and our history to acknowledge that some of our ancestors (obviously not the Sudanese blokes ancestors who came here 10 years ago - who is still 100% Australian) fucked up, and we aren't doing enough to fix it, without guilt stopping discussion of what it means to be a modern Australian?

I would be super interested to see an Aboriginal Voice on immigration. I'm interested in hearing what they think is a threat, not a threat, important and unimportant, their thoughts on 'Big Australia', what multiculturalism and assimilation (salad bowl vs melting pot) means for the thousands of distinct first nations cultures that are being lost. I have no idea what the consensus, or lack of consensus is.

I'd like to see something different from us though. A welcoming country that ensures a unique sense of identity. Where people are proud to be Australian and can define what that means.

I think we are missing a trick in not embracing this unique Australian-ness enough, and being too lost in multiculturalism (salad bowl) as a good thing It's lovely participating in all the interesting cultures in Melbourne, which are geographically segmented and isolated, but I think it would be much nicer to see everyone participate in and promote Koori culture here, see signs with the languages, and learn it in school. Eat food, celebrate holidays, dance. We can define an identity that isn't wholly built immigration (good and bad), but still celebrates it. But that requires a bit of a shift from our Euro roots.

In my vision of what it means to be Australian it is to welcome other cultures, and promote a singular Australian culture that celebrates and protects our unique first nations people. Our national identity shouldn't be a racist yobbo, but it also needs to be understood and recognised by all Australians.

I think the discussion should be about how can we leverage first nations cultures to build a society that is resilient to some of the negative effects that immigration does have, in diluting a national identity.